ABSTRACT
Moreover, the ‘Compact’ idea and its offshots were completely without precedent in this country or elsewhere, and represent an unparalleled step change in the positioning of the voluntary sector in public policy. The move to improve the resources of central government focused on the sector per se is also an important development. It is significant that this commitment was initially made by the New Labour Government at the start of its first term in office, when it was determined to demonstrate its ability to keep public expenditure tightly constrained with an eye to refuting its traditional ‘tax and spend’ reputation.
